Automatic-stop mechanism for phonographs



Nov. 6, 1923.

E. A. RUTH AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed April 9. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I avwentoz Ear/AfEu/fi;

m 5% MM.

Nov. 6' 1923.

E. A. RUTH AUTOMATIC STOP MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed April 9, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l5 l6 17 20 l6 l7 anvewto'c Ear/Afiu/A.

Patented Nov. 6, i923. EFF. T @EH EAR-L A. RUTH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC-STOP MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS.

Application filed April 9, 1921. Serial 1\ To. 459,992.

ToaZZ whom it may concern: In the drawings which form a part of this Be it known that I, EARL A. RUTH, a c1t1- specification 1- I i zen of the United States, residing at .Wash- Fig. 1 is a plan view looking down upon ington, in the District of Columbia, have inthe top of a well known type of phonograph, 60 5 vented certain new and useful Improveillustrating the present invention applied ments in Automatic-Stop Mechanisms for thereto; Phonographs, of which the following is a Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken specification. on the irregular'line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

This invention relates generally to stop Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the plane 65 1o mechanisms, and particularly to automatic indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

stop mechanisms for phonographs. Fig. 4: is asimilar view taken on the ir- "The primary object of the invention is to regular line 14 of Fig. 1; provide a stop mechanism for phonographs Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the plane which is operable automatically by the moveindicated by the line 5--5 of Fig. 1; 70

15 ment of the tone arm of the phonograph in Fig. 6 is a plan vlew of a unit of the imtraversing a record upon the turn table of proved mechanism, said view looking upon the phonograph, one which requires no setsaid unit from the bottomthereof; ting and which operates regardless of the Fig. 7 is a plan view of the central portion size oi the record. of the toothed wheel, and the pinion which 7 20 Another object of the invention is to prohas a clutched engagement therewith, said vide a stop mechanism of this character in pinion being partly broken away and in which the tone arm of the phonograph may section; be moved to its initial position adjacent the Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken edge of the turn table to permit the record to on the plane indicated by the line 88 of 80 5) be changed without causing the stop mecha- Fig. 7

nism to be moved into inoperative position. Fig. 9 is a similar View taken on the plane A further object of the invention is to proindicated by the hue 9-9 of Fig. 8; and vide a stop mechanism for phonographs hav- Fig. 10 1s a perspective view of one of ing the foregoing mentioned desirable tea the stop or brake arms. n tures, and in addition thereto, the desirable Referring more particularly to the draw feature of being provided with manually ings, the letter A designates the top of the operated means for moving the stop mechamotor cabinet ofa phonograph, B and C the nism out of operative position when the tone turn table and the turn table spindle thereof, arm is in its initial position, wherebyto perand D the tone arm which has its vertical 9 :13 mit the turn table to commence rotating. portion E turna-bly mounted in a bearing F A still further object of the invention is carried by the top A ot'the motor cabinet so to provide in an automatic stop mechanism as to swing in the usual manner partly across tlor phonographs, an improved type of brake the turn table B. These parts are all of the mechanism or stop mechanism per se. usual construction, and therefore form no 9 4!) An additional object of the invention is part of the present invention, except in comto generally improve upon the heretofore bination with the improved mechanism. known mechanisms of a similar nature by The top A of the motor cabinet is, howthe provision of'amechanism which is of ever, slightly modifiedby being provided at comparatively simple, durable and inexpena convenientpoint adjacent the bearing F a) sive construction, one which is eflicient and with an arcuate slot 1, which has its curvareliable in operation and well adapted for ture concentric to the axis of swing of the the purposes for which it is designed; tone arm D. The top A is further modilVith the foregoing and other objects in fied'by a four sided opening 2 and a circuview, the invention resides in the novel fealar opening 3 at convenient points adjacent 10 so tures of construction and the combination the point where the turn table spindle C and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter passes therethrough. v fully described and claimed and shown in The turn table 13 is also slightly modified the accompanying drawings, in which simito the extent that it has on its peripheral lar ret'erence characters are used to desigflange a series ofoutwardly extending cir- 11 nate corresponding parts throughout the cumferentially spaced projections 4. several views. Fastened to the lower side of the top A of not interfere with any ate in unison.

the motor cabinet in any suitable manner, for instance, by means of screws 5 is a plate 6, which may be of any desired shape so as to Formed also upon the lower side of the plate 6 and depending therefrom is another bearing stud 112, betweenthe inner shouldered end of which and a washer plate 13 screwed to its free end, is rotatably-mount'ed a pinion 7 l4 and a, toothed member or wheel .15, this pinion 14n1eshi1 1g with the gear wheellO.

The pinion 14 is disposed above the wheel 15 and has mounted thereon on its lower side in any suitable manner, a pair of diametricaliy disposed pawls 16 which are engageable with recesses 17 formed in the upper side of the wheel 15. This arrangement forms a clutched connection between the pinion 14 and the wheel 15, so thatwhen the pinion 14 is rotating in one direction, rotation willbe imparted to the wheel 15, but-when the pinion 14 is rotating in'the reverse direction the wheel 15 may remain stationary.

While the pawls'16 may be of any suitable construction and may be mounted upon the pinion 14 in any suitable manner, yet they are preferably provided atone of their ends with truunions 18, which are retained in recesses 19 formed upon the lower side of the pinion 14 by means of a plate 20 screwed to the lower side of said pin-ion 14. The plate 20 is provided with openings 21, through which the swinging pawls 16 extend.

Theplate6 is further provided with an upwardly and downwardly extending hearing 22, the upwardly,extendingportion of which extends through, the foregoing menoabinet. v

Revolubly mounted in the bearing 22 is a tioned opening3 in the top A of the motor shaft 23,"which has screwed or otherwise mounted upon a bearing v be stated that the fixed upon its lower end a gear wheel 24; This gear wheel 24 meshes with a pinion 25 stud 26 depending from the plate 6. Fixed to the pinion 25 so as to rotate therewith is a gear wheel 27, which meshes with a pinion 28 fixed upon the turn table spindleC. Incidentally it will plate 6 is provided with an opening 29-to allow for the passage of the turn table spindle C therethrough.

Fixed upon the upper end of the shaft 23 part of the phono V with the forwarde'dge of or formed integrally therewith, whichever V is desired, is a stepped member 30, and frictionaliy fitted upon thi member 30 upon its smallest and intermediate steps are arms 31 and 32. To provide for the connection of the 7 arms 31 and 32 with the member 30, said arms are formed intermediate of their ends with ring shaped hubs 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. i

The arms 31 and 32 are obviously disposed above the top A of the motor cabinet, but beneath the turn tablefB. However, they have one of their ends extending beyond the flange Got theturn are provided adjacent these ends withuptable B, and they standing projections 34. The other ends of the arms 31 and 32 are'bent downwardly as at 35, and these downturned portions are engaged by teeth 36 formed at the periphery of the wheel 15. These teeth 36 are arranged similarly to the teeth upon an ordinary.

. teeth of the wheel 15 irrespective of the position of the latter. 7

Glamped around the vertically disposed portion E of the tone arm D is a split ring 37 carrying a laterally extending arm 38, which is bent downwardly through the slot land then horizontally, and whiehhas on its free end a segmental gear 39 meshing with the pinion 9. H e

The arms 31 and 32 in moving between adjacent teeth 36 on the wheel ,15, move so that their projections 34 are disposed in the path of the projections 4 on the flange G of the turn table Bfsoas to engage said pro jections 4 and ."arrest the movement of the turn table 13. When in this 'positionthe arms are, braced by pairs of pins 40 driven into the top A of the motor cabinet.

Mounted upon'the upper side of the top [it of the motor cabinet beneath the turn table B is an arcuate tube 41 having a slot 42 at its top and a slot 43 at its outer side and extending'from one end. Slidably mounted in this tube is an arcuate which is outturned as at 45 to pass-, beyond the edge of the turn table B, where vided with a finger piece 46. The other end of the rod. 44 is connected to one end 01' a coil spring 47, the other end of which is anchored in any suitable manner to the top A of the motor cabinet. Fixed to the inter mediate portion of the rod 44 is a pair of it is pro 7 i the medium of the pinion 28,

pins 48, which project upwardly through the slot 42 in the tube 41. These pins 48 are disposed in front of the arms 31 and 32.

The operation of the device is as follows 2- Assuming v shown in Fig. 1, that is, with the arm 32 having-its projection 34 in engagement with a projection 4 on the flange G of the turn table B so that the latter is at rest, and with its portion 35 disposed between two adjacent teeth 36 of the wheel 15, and with the tone arm D in its initial position adj acent the edge of the turn table 13, should it be deslred to play a record placed upon the turn tab-1e B, it would only be necessary toengage the finger piece 46 and push 1t rearwardly. The consequent movement to therear of the rod 44 causes the pins 48 to engage the arms 31 and 32 and'swing them free from engagement with the projection 4 on the flange Gr of the turn tabe B and permit the latter to rotate.

The tone arm D in travers ng a record on the turn table B will continuously rotate the wheel 15 at such a speed through the medium of'the gear 39, pinion 9, gear 10, pinion 14, pawls 16 and recesses 17, that the wheel 15 will maintain the arms 31 and 32 at its periphery, although said arms Wlll have a tendency to alternately swing in between adjacent teeth of the wheel 15. As long as the wheel 15 is rotating, itsv teeth 36 will maintain the arms 31 and 32 at its periphery so that said arms will not be in a position to engage any of the pro ections 4 on the rim of the turn table B and cause the latter to cease rotating.

.WVhen the stylus carried by the tone arm D reaches the end of the music groove 1n the record so that the tone arm ceases'to swing, rotation of the wheel 15 will cease.

The turn table spindle C still rotating and rotating the step member 30 through gear 27, pinion 25 and gear 24, causes whichever of the arms 31 and 32 that is disposed opposite the space between the points of two adjacent teeth 36 of the wheel 15 to swing between said teeth under the friction between that arm and the member 30. This arm in thus swinging, places itsprojection 34 in the path of the projections 4 on the flange G of the turn table and when engaged by one of them stops the rotation of the turn table.

It will be here pointed out that the gearing which drives the member 30 is speed reducing gearing, so that the member 30 will be driven very slowly. I

The parts being at rest, the tone arm may be swung back across the turn table to its initial position so that the record may be changed. In thus swinging the tone arm the gearing interposed between it and the wheel 15 would be driven in the reverse direction, but the clutched connection of the the pantsto be in the position pinion 14 with the wheel 15 would permit the latter to remain stationary to maintain the turn table at restuntil again started in the hereinbefore explained manner.

32 sufficiently free from engagement by the teeth 36 of the wheel 15, so as to allow sufficient time for the stylus to be applied to the record before the arms again move under the influence of the member 30 into engagement of the teeth 36 of the wheel 15, which as hereinbefore explained maintains them out of operative engagement with the turn table while said wheel is rotating.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings it will be seen that the objects of the invention have been effectively carried out, as the improved stop mechanism is entirely automatic and does not require setting, and furthermore, it operates effectively regardless of the size of the record.

As numerous changes in form, proportion, and in the various details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and principle of the invention, it is to be understood that such may be done within the meaning and scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a stop mechanism; the combination with a rotatable member, and a traveling member propelled thereby; of a normally applied brake for the rotatable member, and a movable member driven by the traveling men'iber, the brake being mounted independently of the movable member, and the movable member being arranged in direct engagement with the brake to maintain the latter ineffective while moving and to permit the same to become effective when its movement ceases.

2. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a normally applied brake mechanism for the turn table, and a rotatable member driven by the tone arm, said brake mechanism being mounted upon the phonograph independently of said rotatable member, and said rotatable member being arranged in direct engagement with said brake mechanism to maintain the latter ineffective while rotating and to permit the same to become effective when its rotation ceases.

3. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of stop mechanism engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, a movable member engaging said stop mechanism and belng provided with means for maintaining said stop mechanism out of operative engagement with the turn table while said memberv is moving, said means permitting said stop mechanism to move into It will be noted that the rearward movement of the rod 44 moves the arms 31 and operative engagement with the turn table ersing a record upon the turn table.

4. The combination w th the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of stop mechanism engagcable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, a rotatable member engaging said stop mechanism and being provided with means for maintaining said stop mechanism but of operative'engagement with the turn table while said member is rotating, said means permitting said stop mechanism to move into operative engagementwith the turn table when rotation of said mei'nber ceases,"and means for rotating sa1d member from the movement of the tone arm in traversing a record upon the turn table. a

The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of stop mechanism engageable with the'turn table for arresting the movement thereof, a toothed rotatablemember engaging said stop mechanism, and means for rotating said member from'the movement of the tone arm in traversing a record upon the turn table and at a'rate of speed sufficient to maintain said stop mechanism out of operative: engagement with the turn table while said member is rotating. V w

6. The combination with the turn table and tone arm ofaphonograph, of .a stop member engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, and a toothed Wheel having a driving connection with thetone arm so as to 'be rotated by the movement of the latter in traversing a record on the turn table, said wheel engaging said member and while rotating main taining the latter out of operative engage ment' with the turn table butpermitting said member to operatively engage said turn table when it' ceases to rotate. I p

:7. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a swing ing stop member engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, a 'wheel having a driving connection with the tone arm so as to be rotated by the movement of the latter in traversing a record onthe turn table, and means'carried by said wheel and engaging sai'd member for main taining the latterout of operative engagement with the turn table while saidwheel is rotating, said means permitting said member to swing into operative engagement with the turn table when said wheel ceases to rotate. I p r. V 1 I 8, The combination with theturn table I 'a'i'idtonef arm of a phonograph, of a swinging stop member engageable with the turn table fo "a sting the movement thereof, a wheel, having a driving connection with the tone arm so as to be rotated by the movement of the latter in traversing a record on the turn table, and a series of teeth on said wheel and engaging said member andmaintaining the latter out of operative engagement with the turn table while said wheel is'rotating, said; teeth receiving a portion 'of-sa1d" member therebetween when sa1d wheel ceases to rorate, whereby to permit said member to turntable.

9. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a pair of swinging stop members engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, a wheel having a driving connection with the tone arm so as to be rotated by the movement of the latter in traversing a record on the turn table, and a series of teeth formed on said wheel and engaging said members for maintaining both of the latter out of operative engagement with the turn table while said wheel is'rotating, said teeth receiving a portion of one or the other of said members therebetween when said Wheel ceases to rotate whereby to permit that member to swing into operative engagement with mitting said member to move into operative i engagement with the turn table when-said wheel ceases to rotate. T I

'11. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a stop member engageable with the turntable for arresting the movement thereof, a rotatable wheel, a segmental gear carried by the tone arm, speed multiplying gearing interposed between said gear and saidwheel for rotating the latter from the movement "of the tone arm in traversing a record on the turn table, and means carried by said wheel and engag: ing said memberfor maintaining the latter out'of operative engagement with the turn table while said wheel isrotating, said means permitting said member'to move into operative engagement with the "turn table when said wheel ceases-to rotate. a i

'12. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograplnof a stop memberengageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, rotatable wheel, gearing coupled to; thetone arm for operation therefrom, means between said gearing and said wheel for causing the latter to rotate in one direction as the gearing is driven in one direction by the movement operative engagement with the turn table when said wheel ceases to rotate.

' 13. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a stop member engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, a rotatable wheel, gearing coupled to the tone arm'for operation therefrom, clutch mechanism between said gearing and said wheel for causing the latter to rotate in one direction as said gearing ism-driven in one direction fromthe movement of the tone arm in traversing a record on the turn table, said clutch mechanism'permitting said wheel to remtain stationary when said gearing is driven in the reverse direction by the movement of the tone arm to its initial position, and means carried by said wheel and engaging said member for maintaining the latter out of operative engagement with the turn table while said wheel is rotating, said means permitting said memberto move into operative engagement with the turn table when said wheel ceases to rotate.

14:. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a. stop member engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, a rotatable wheel, gearing coupled to the tone arm for operation therefrom, swinging pawls mounted on said gearing and engageable with said wheel for causing the latter to rotate in one direction as said gearing is driven in one direction by the movement of the tone arm in traversing a record on the turn table, said pawls permitting said wheel to remain stationary when said gearing is driven in the reverse direction by the movement of the tone arm to its initial position, and means carried by said wheel and engaging said member for maintaining the latter out of operative engagement with the turn table while said wheel is rotating, saidmeans permitting said member to move into operative engagement with the turn table when said wheel ceases to rotate.

15. The combination with vthe turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of stop mechanism engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, means controlled by the movement of the tone arm for maintaining said Stop mechanism out of operative engagement with the turn table while the tone arm is traversing a record on the turn table, said means permitting said stop mechanism tomove into operative engagement with the turn table when the tone arm ceases to traverse the record, and manually operated means for moving said stop mechanism out of operative engagement with the turn table.

16. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a swinging stop member engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, means controlled by the movement of the tone arm for maintaining said stop member out of operative engagement with the turn table while the tone arm'is traversing a record on the turntable, said means permitting said stop member to move into operative engagement with the turn table when the tone arm ceases to traverse the record, and a manually operated movable member engageable with said stop member for swinging the latter out of operative engagement with the turn table.

17. The combination with the turn table and tone arm'of a phonograph, of a swinging stop arm engageable with the edge of the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, means controlled by the movement of the tone arm for maintaining said stop arm out of operative engagement with the turn table while the tone arm is traversing a record on the turn table, said means 'permitting said stop arm to swing into opera tive engagement with the turn table when the tone arm ceases to traverse the record, a slidable member provided with a finger piece by which it may be manually operated, and a projection on said member engageable with said stop arm for swinging the latter out of operative engagement with the turn table.

18. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a swinging stop arm engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, means controlled by the movement of the tone arm for maintaining said stop arm out of operative engagement with the turn table while the tone arm is traversing a record on the turn table, said means permitting said stop arm to swing into operative engagement with the turn table when the tone arm ceases to traverse the record, a stationary tube disposed beneath the turn table, a rod slidably mounted in said tube, a finger piece carried by said rod for operating the same, and a projection on said rod and engageable with said stop arm for swinging the latter out of operative engagement with the turn table.

' 19. The combination with the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph, of a rotatable member, a stop arm engageable with the turn table for arresting the movementgthereof, said arm being frictionally fitted iu ponsaid member whereby it is maintained biased to'engagementwith the turn table, and, means controlled by the movement of thetone arm for maintaining'said stop arm out of operative engagementwith the turn table while the tone arm is traversing a rec- 0rd on the latter, said means permitting said stop arm to be swung by said rotatable mem her into operative engagement with the turn table when the tone arm ceases to traverse the record. a

, 20. The combination with the turn table, turn table spindle and tone arm of a phonograph, of a rotatable member having a driving connection with the turn table vspindle, stop'arm engageable with the turn table for.

operative engagement with the turn table when the tone arm ceasesto traverse the record. s

21. The combinationwiththe turn table, turn table spindleand tone arm of a phonograph, of a rotatable member speed reducing gearing between said memberand the turn table-spindle, astop arm engageable with the turn table for arresting the movement thereof, said stop arm being frictionally fitted upon said member wherebyit is c Y ns/3,125

turn table, and -means controlled the .movement of the tone arm formaintaining said stop arm out of voperative engagement with the turn tablewhile the tone arm is gagement with the turn table whenthe tone arm ceases to traverse therecord.

22L'1l1e'eombination with ,the turn table and tone arm of a phonograph of stop .meehnnism engageable with the turntable for arresting the 'movement thereof, amovable member controlledv by the movement of the tone arm in traversing a record on the turn table,n 1e;u 1 s carried said member .maintained biased to engagement with the I 7 ltraversinga record on' the latter, said means permitting saldstop arm to be swungby said rotatable member ,lIltQ operatlve en for maintaining said stop mechanism out of operative engagementfwith the ,turn table while said memberflis moving, said means permitting said stop mechanism to operatively engage the turn table whenlmovement of sa d member ceases, and mannally operated means for moving said stop mechanism out of operative engagement with the turn table to permit the latter to commence rotating, thelast named means moving said stop mechanism sufiiciently free from engagement by. the first named, means to allow suf- & ficient time ,for applying the stylus of the phonograph to therecord before said stop mechanism again moves: lnto engagement with the first namedmeans, by whichsaid I stop mechanism is maintained out of opera-- tive engagement with said turn table while said member is moving, 7 v t In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature.

EARL RUTH. V 

